MOST SUCCESSFUL TRAINERS IN THE LAST 20 YEARS
There is nothing more important to the successful preparation of a Melbourne Cup winner than a plan by the trainer and their stable participants. In the early years of the Melbourne Cup the All Black colours of Etienne de Mestre dominated, with him taking out the first two Cups with Archer (1861,62) then following up with three more victories in the great race, Tim Whiffler (1867), Chester (1877) and Calamia (1878).
That record stood for nearly a century before the “Cups King” James Bartholomew (Bart) Cummings who won his first Cup with Light Fingers (1965) before victory with his final Cup winner in Viewed (2008) who became his 12th winner of the great race. His dominance of this great race is that he leads the record tally with 12 winners and the next best is still 5 with Etienne de Mestre sharing that record with Lee Freedman.
At Palmerbet we have gone back over the last 20 years to try and identify trainers with the best record in the Melbourne Cup to try and help identify the 2025 Melbourne Cup winner.
AIDAN and JOSEPH O’BRIEN
Joseph O’Brien is an Irish born horse trainer from “good stock”. He is the son of Irelands leading trainer in Aidan O’Brien who trains at Ballydoyle Stables in County Tipperary for Coolmore Stud.
Aidan O’Brien was tempted to first come to Australia with his champion stayer Yeats back in 2006. Yeats had won the Goodwood Cup and Ascot Gold Cup prior to coming to Australia and was one of the highest rated imports to take on the great race. After carrying topweight of 59kgs, Yeats could only manage 7th behind the Japanese duo of Delta Blues and Pop Rock.
Aiden has had 17 runners in the Melbourne Cup with his best results two 2nd’s (Johannes Vermeer 2017 and Tiger Moth 2020) and a 3rd with Il Paradiso in 2019.
His son Joseph has topped his Dad by winning the Melbourne Cup at his first attempt with Rekindling in 2017 then he followed up winning the race again in 2020 when Twilight Payment led from start to finish in front of a crowd of zero due to Covid restrictions.
Joseph has only had 10 runners in the Melbourne Cup for two winners.
In 2025 Joseph O’Brien has two possible runners in Al Riffa (FR) and Goodie Two Shoes (IRE). On form Al Riffa (FR) looks the best of the two coming to Australia after winning the Curragh Cup and Irish St Leger at his last two starts.
CHRIS WALLER
Australia’s leading trainer in Chris Waller had his first runner in the Melbourne Cup back in 2009 when Warringah finished a distant 23rd to Shocking.
Five years later he managed to sneak his first placing in the great race when the public favourite Who Shot Thebarman finished a gallant 3rd to the dominant German horse Protectionist.
Chris Waller had won every big race in Australia leading up to the 2021 Melbourne Cup but this race had eluded him, that was until James McDonald picked up the late ride on his favourite mare Verry Elleegant and she gave trainer and rider their first Cup win.
Waller again got close in 2023 with Soulcombe finishing 2nd and Sheraz filling the minor placing.
Chris has had 35 runners in the Cup.
Chris Waller has a strong hand in 2025 with Caulfield Cup placing Valiant King and Group 1 winner Buckaroo topping his list of entries.
CIARON MAHER
Ciaron Maher burst onto the Australian racing scene and has grown into one of the biggest stables in the country. Maher had his first runner in the two mile race back in 2014 when Mr O’Ceirin finished a distant 21st in the race won by the German raider Protectionist.
The Maher stable had some moderate results until Gold Trip (2022) saluted for the stable (in partnership with David Eustace). The stable also filled the minor spot with High Emocean (NZ).
He went close again in 2024 when Okita Soushi fought hard to hold a close 3rd spot after looking winner at the 100m.
Ciaron Maher has had 24 runners in the Melbourne Cup for a win, a second and two 3rds.
In 2025 he has a number of winning chances in Middle Earth (GB), Zardozi, Royal Supremacy and probably what would be a famous Melbourne Cup win of Gilded Water (GB) could salute for his owner King Charles.
ROBERT HICKMOTT
Robert Hickmott is one of only two dual winners of the Melbourne Cup to likely have a runner in 2025 (the other trainer being Joseph O’Brien).
Hickmott shared a trainer/ownership combination with Lloyd Williams which began with Melbourne Cup runs back in 2010 when Zipping finished 4th and the flashy grey Linton could only manage 21st.
His first success came quickly when in 2012 Brett Prebble produced a master ride to get home on Green Moon.
Hickmott only had to wait another 4 years before another victory when Almandin got his head down on the line to win the Cup in 2016.
Robert Hickmott has had 21 runners in the Cup for two winners and no placings.
His likely runner in the 2025 Revelare pulled up lame in the Caulfield Cup and prepared to forgive him that run. He relishes Flemington, having won three of his four starts at the track. He qualified for the Cup with a win in the Archer Stakes (Hotham) back in September and on his favourite track must respect.
TONY & CALVIN MCEVOY
Probably not the best place to list the McEvoy Stable under the most successful trainers in the Melbourne Cup, but they do have the favourite in 2025 in Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours and would be remiss not to touch on their Melbourne Cup history.
Tony McEvoy had his first Melbourne Cup runner when his son was in nappies back in 2002, he had two runners that season without success when Requiem finished 22nd and stablemate Sandmason was hot on his heels in 23rd spot.
The only other runner for the McEvoy stable came in 2004 with import Hugs Dancer who ran a slashing race when 5th in the second of Makybe Diva’s Cups.
It has been 21 years since Tony had his last runner in the Cup but with his 24 year old son, Calvin by his side they may just create some history as the first father/son combination to train a Melbourne Cup winner.